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a bold calumniator, against those with whom you are less conversant. Rather might you infer that he who indiscriminately censures all, is so much less entitled to credit when he censures any; and that, in the one case as in the other, the colouring of exaggeration or misrepresentation may have been employed to impose upon the credulous and unwary."-Pp. 32-35.

The charge concludes with some admirable counsel with respect to the most efficient means of stemming this torrent of malignity, grounded on the hope, that, under the superintending providence of the Almighty, the labours of his servants" will not be in vain in the Lord."

Modern Claims to miraculous Gifts of the Spirit considered, in a Sermon, preached November 6, 1831, at the St. Pancras Parochial Chapel, in Regent-square. By the Rev. WILLIAM HARNESS, A.M. Minister of the Chapel, and Evening Lecturer at St. Ann's, Soho. London: Longman. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 20. The Offices of the Holy Spirit-Four Sermons, preached before the University of Cambridge, in the Month of November, 1831. By the Rev. CHARLES SIMEON, M.A. Senior Fellow of King's College. London: Holdsworth and Ball. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 102.

THAT the profane ribaldry which has been lately playing off at the Scotch Church, under the superintendence of Mr. Irving, should have excited a momentary curiosity, would not perhaps have been very surprising; but that it should have made an impression upon the credulity of any sound-minded man, is altogether unaccountable. Such, however, seems to have been the case; and it was therefore the duty of Mr. Harness more particularly, as the Minister of the adjacent neighbourhood, to appeal to the reason and judgment of his parishioners in refutation of these absurd pretenders to miraculous endowments. The gifts, to the renewal of which they especially lay claim, are those of tongues and prophecy, as mentioned in 1 Cor. xiv.; and Mr. Harness has accordingly proved, that if tried by that standard, they differ from the gifts vouchsafed to the first disciples in their

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nature; that they do not conduce to the same objects; and that they outrage the laws prescribed by St. Paul for the use of them. In conclusion, he charitably attributes the claims to intellectual delusion rather than premeditated imposture; and wisely suggests that the most effectual mode of checking the nuisance is to treat it with neglect.

Mr. Simeon's academical course, though evidently written without a primary reference to the subject, naturally alludes to the mad "conceits" of these "brain-sick enthusiasts." With respect to the Sermons themselves, there are, as might be expected, many points on which we totally differ from Mr. Simeon's views; but, on the principles which the writer is known to advocate, they are well constructed and pointedly argued. The running text is from Rom. viii. 9, and involves the four following points of inquiry:1. Who is that Spirit, whom all Christians are expected to possess?-2. Why the possession of that Spirit is indispensable to acceptance with Christ?— 3. What the Spirit will work within us that we may be Christ's?-4. What when we are Christ's? The discussion of each head occupies an entire discourse.

A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, London, November 13, 1831, on Occasion of the Royal Letter being read for the Encouragement of Contributions in Aid of the Funds of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. By the Rev. JOHN ABBISS, M.A. Rector. London: Wix. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 26. A Sermon preached at Beddington, Surrey, October 9, 1831, in Aid of the Funds of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. By the Rev. J. B. FERRERS, A.M. Rector of Beddington. London: Rivingtons. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 16. Present national Delusions upon Wisdom, Power, and Riches: considered in a Sermon preached before the Sparkenhoe District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in the Parish Church of Market Bosworth,

Leicestershire, on Thursday, August
4, 1831. By A. B. EVANS, D. D.
Head Master of Market Bosworth
Free Grammar School. London:
Cadell. 1831. 8vo. Pp. 31.

OUR opinion of the two former of the three Sermons, whose titles head this notice, is sufficiently marked by the selection we have made of them, from many others which have appeared on the same subject, as particularly worthy of public attention. A similar motive induced us to subjoin Dr. Evans's discourse, which though not actually preached in accordance with the Royal Command, is nearly allied in purpose; and in point of merit, is at least equal to those with which we have classed it.

Reform absolutely necessary; addressed particularly to the Lower Orders. By a TRUE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE. London: Rivingtons and Whittaker. 1831.

THE absurd cry about Reform is here turned to real advantage, and made to inculcate the necessity of a reform in moral and relative duty. A proposed reformation of the prevalent vices of the times,—of disaffection, of sabbathbreaking, swearing, drunkenness, adultery and fornication, incendiarism, idleness, scepticism, and irreligion,-forms the clauses of a measure respecting which every sober-minded man will be ready to admit, that "the Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill," would be most desirable.

The Churchman's Almanac for 1832, &c. New York: Published by the Protestant Episcopal Press. Pp. 36. THE notice of an Almanac may at first sight appear an unmeaning novelty; but the one before us has particular claims upon us, in consequence of the statistical accounts which it contains of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. By this we find that Kentucky has been erected into a diocese, and assistant Bishops appointed in Pennsylvania and Virginia: thus increasing the numbers of the bench to thirteen, and further additions are contemplated. The number of Clergy dispersed over these dioceses is, at VOL. XIV, NO. 1,

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Students in eighteen Seminaries Volumes in the Libraries of fourteen Seminaries ...... 40,924 Ditto in the Libraries of Societies of Students at five Seminaries

3,387 The above is a valuable document, as exhibiting the progress of America in religious and intellectual pursuits, and would alone have justified our notice; but the history of the reviews and alterations of the Book of Common Prayer, by the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, has been a further inducement; and its transfer to our pages will, we feel assured, on many accounts, be acceptable to our readers.

"Agreeably to a recommendation of several of the Clergy, who met together in New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 13, 1784, and subsequently in New York, Oct. 5, 1784, a convention of clerical and lay deputies from seven of the thirteen United States, assembled in Philadelphia on the 27th of September, 1785. They applied themselves to the making of such alterations in the Book of Common Prayer, as were necessary for the accommodating of it to the late changes in the State; and the proposing, but not establishing, of such other alterations in that Book, and in the Articles, as they thought an improvement of the service, and of the manner of stating the principal Articles of faith. These were published in a book, ever since known by the name of the Proposed Book.'

"At a meeting of the Convention in Wilmington, Delaware, October 10, 1786, the Nicene Creed was restored

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to the Book of Common Prayer; and also the clause in the Apostles' Creed, relative to the descent into hell.

"The first General Convention met in Philadelphia, October 3, 1789. The two houses entered on a review of the Liturgy; the Bishops originating alterations in some services, and the house of clerical and lay deputies proposing others. The result was the Book of Common Prayer as it was then established, and has ever since been used, together with the Psalter, and Psalms, and Hymns.

"In 1792, the ORDINAL of the Church of England was reviewed, and is now the established form for the consecrating of Bishops, and the ordaining of Priests and Deacons. In 1799, the service for the consecrating a Church or Chapel was established. It is substantially the same with a service composed by Bishop Andrews, in the reign of James I.; and since commonly used by the English Bishops in such consecrations; but without the authority of Convocation or of Parliament. In 1801, the Articles were for the first time authoritatively acted upon; and the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England were adopted, without the altering even of the obsolete diction in them, but with notices of such changes as change of situation had rendered necessary.

"In 1804, an office was framed to be used at the induction of ministers to the rectorship of Churches. The name of this office was changed at the next General Convention, (1808,) to the Office of Institution;' it is recommended, not required to be used.

"At the same session of the General Convention, (1808,) thirty Hymns were added to the Book of Psalms and Hymns. In the General Convention of 1826, the Hymns were revised, newly arranged, and the collection greatly enlarged.

"A Committee appointed by the same Convention, and continued by the Convention of 1829, have the subject of the revision of the Book of Psalms in metre under their consideration."

PLATT on Literal Interpretation. THIS pamphlet is levelled primarily against an interpretation of Heb. ii. 5,

found in one of the Rev. Daniel Wilson's sermons, but supported by some names of much higher critical authority. So far as regards this part of Mr. Platt's argument, we agree with him entirely; not because the passage may not be figurative, but because the figure for which Mr. Wilson and his commentatorial auxiliaries contend is, even violently, at variance with grammatical propriety. But on this foundation Mr. Platt proceeds to erect a very extraordinary position, viz. that all figurative interpretations of Scripture are, eò quod they are figurative, necessarily incorrect. This, indeed, he qualifies, by admitting that "no man imagines that our Lord changed himself into a tree, when he said, I am the true vine;' or that his disciples were quadrupeds, when he said, My sheep hear my voice.' But his doctrine, legitimately pursued, would go the length he deprecates. Mr. Platt appears to be a disciple of the

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Morning Watch" school, and would apply, more especially, his canon to prophecy. We thought that, if there was one part of Scripture in which figurative interpretation was allowed, nay required, rather than in any other, this was the portion. We imagined that the fatal error of the Jews was the literal interpretation of prophecy, and the consequently prevalent notion of an earthly kingdom of Messiah. But if the "literal interpretation" system be true, John the Baptist was a mere metempsychosis of Elijah, David will revisit the earth, and Messiah will one day feast his people sumptuously on mount Zion. It is no argument in favour of these monstrosities, which expose the Christian faith to the daily sarcasms of infidels, that Mr. Platt is a man of rich and varied learning. Most readily do we admit the premises; but men in no wise his inferiors in biblical or general literature have felt very differently. The "literal interpretation" system does not indeed appear to us so much to depend on accomplishments, as on modes of thought. Extremes are as injurious in the interpretation of Scripture as in every thing else. The letter alone, leads to transubstantiation; the figure alone, to the reveries of the cabbalists

and schoolmen. The spirit must be followed; the sound critic will never interpret figuratively without assigning his reason; but, where this is assignable, he will consider himself as much bound to follow it, as he would have been, in its absence, to adhere to the letter. For thus far, indeed, we agree with Mr. Platt, that the letter is the sense wherever it cannot be probably shewn to be otherwise. Mr. Platt's pamphlet may be considered as a kind of off-skirmish in favour of the Morning Watch men, and may not, therefore, be very interesting to our readers, however dignified by a name which many of them have associated with the respect of the purest and happiest period of their lives.

Beauties of Sacred Harmony. By J. C. NIGHTINGALE, Organist of the Foundling. London: Luff. Pp. 124. THE contents of this volume have been selected with the greatest care, and, it is undoubtedly one of the most pleasing and best collections of sacred music we have ever seen. The sublime compositions of Handel, Haydn, Corelli, Mozart, Beethoven, and other eminent composers, have been arranged for the voice, with an accompaniment for the pianoforte or organ, in a style and with a taste and judgment that fully maintain the previous reputation of Mr. Nightingale; and we have no doubt that the work will become deservedly popular, especially as, independent of having so many beautiful compositions condensed and complete in one volume, the contents, if purchased separately, would cost about four times the price of the present work: an additional recommendation, is the very neat manner in which it is "got up," since, in point of execution, it may fairly be said to rival the musical portion of the Cadeau, and other annuals of that description.

1. Pietas Privata. The Book of Private Devotion. A Series of Prayers and Meditations, with an Introductory Essay on Prayer, chiefly from the writings of Hannah More. London: Nisbet. 1831. 32mo. Pp. 184.

2. Daily Communings, Spiritual and Devotional; or Select Portions of the Book of Psalms. By the Right Rev. GEORGE HORNE, Bishop of Norwich. London : Nisbet. 1831. 48mo. Pp. x. 268.

LET the authors, from whose writings these little manuals are compiled, speak to their merits. We commit them to the hands of the pious without affectation, as useful manuals of daily devotion and self-examination.

A Word to the Labouring Classes on the Tumults at Bristol; being a Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Wrington, Somerset. By HENRY THOMPSON, M. A. Curate. London: Rivingtons. 1831.

A Plain Sermon on the Presence of God's Judgments in the Land. London: Rivingtons. 1831.

THESE Sermons are printed in a cheap form, for the purpose of circulation among the lower orders; and it is no little merit that they possess, in being admirably adapted to the end for which they were preached. Of the former we cannot speak too highly. The tone of earnest exhortation, plain sense, and affectionate expostulation in which it is written, cannot fail to have been sensibly and profitably felt by the hearers; more especially at the particular time, and in the immediate neighbourhood, of its delivery.

We may as well, by the way, seize the present opportunity of directing the attention of our clerical brethren to the new edition, which has just appeared, of Mr. Thompson's Pastoralia. To the review, which we gave of it at the time of its first publication, we have merely to add, that the single desideratum, which we pointed out, has been fully and ably supplied. It seems, however, that the author was more fastidious than ourselves: for he has introduced several improvements and additions, which tend to make what was before positively good, now superlatively so.

Luther's Table-Talk; or, Some Choice Fragments from the Familiar Discourse of that Godly, Learned Man,

and famous Champion of God's Truth,
London:
Dr. MARTIN LUTHER.
Longman and Co. 12mo. Pp. xxvi.

In this republication of the Scrapbook of some German Boswell, who had treasured up, with unremitting diligence, every passing observation which fell from Luther's mouth, there is much that is instructive, more that is amusing, and not a little that is puerile and unworthy of preservation. Unfortunately too, the work does not rest upon any very established ground of authenticity; and this alone detracts considerably from the intrinsic value of the work. At the same time, many of the marks bear the impress of Luther's peculiar manner; and that gaiety of conversation, even when discussing the most serious subjects, at which his enemies have not failed to cavil, attest the originality and truth of many of the fragments contained in the volume.

Anthologia Sacra; or Select Theological Extracts, arranged by the Rev. BERNARD GILPIN, M.A. and WILLIAM HENRY VALPY, Esq. London: Valpy. 1832. 8vo. two vols. Pp. xix. 352, 320.

THE plan of this work suggested itself to Mr. Valpy during his residence in India; and it is not unlikely that a compilation from the works of our standard Divines would not only tend in some degree to supply the means of religious instruction and edification in a land where Christian society and experienced ministers are thinly scattered, but to assist in the religious improvement of families at home. We cannot say, however, that we are altogether satisfied with the selections before us. Too great a portion of them are from the works of sectarians, even of the most enthusiastic caste; and though there is not perhaps any thing very objectionable in the extracts themselves, yet the same subjects have been treated with equal eloquence and more sobriety by the orthodox fathers of the Church of England, whose writings, simply as such, ought to have been searched in preference to those of doubtful repute. It may be asked, What is a name? "A rose, by any

other name, would smell as sweet." True: but the sweet savour of our own Communion is preferable to that of any other.

‘Ο ΛΟΓΟΣ, or, the Words of Christ, recorded by the Evangelists. London: Valpy. 8vo. Pp. xxiv. 102. "THE design of this Manual," as we are told in the Preface (p. viii.), "is to collect, in the order in which they occur in the New Testament, and in his precise words, all those rescripts of Christ which are significant and authoritative, independently of the narration which contains them, &c. &c." In plain language, all the verses of the four Gospels, which contain any of our Lord's precepts, are copied word for word from the New Testament; and for what other reason, except for the purpose of making a book, we are wholly at a loss to conceive. Possibly, by a perusal of the Preface throughout, the reader may be further illuminated. The book costs five shillings and sixpence!!!

Bible Illustrations.

By the Rev. BOURNE HALL DRAPER. London: Harris. 1831.

A delightful little book, intended principally for the young, but well deserving of attention from the more advanced in years among the humbler classes of society. It forms a volume of a very useful juvenile publication, called the "Little Library." The plates are well executed, and form a very important accompaniment to the

text.

1. The Infant's Daily Sacrifice. A Book of Short Hymns for Children. With plates. London: Hatchard. 1831. Pp. xx. 75.

2. Hymns for Children. By the Rev. W. FLETCHER, of St. John's College, Cambridge, &c. &c. London: Hailes. 1831. Pp. xii. 96.

SINCE Watts's Hymns, these little volumes are decidedly the best that have been given to the public.

IN THE PRESS.

To be published early this month, in 12mo. A History and Character of American Revivals of Religion, by the Rev. Calvin Colton, of America.

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